Helping families buy fruits and vegetables through SNAP incentives
Official title: Increasing Use of SNAP Fruit and Vegetable Incentive Programs for Families with Food Insecurity
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11126776 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to help families with kids aged 2-10 who are struggling to get enough healthy food by offering them vouchers for free fruit and vegetable boxes, along with helpful information about eating better, to see if it can make a difference in their diets.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $641,042 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK140677-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11126776 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are families with children aged 2-10 who are enrolled in SNAP and experiencing food insecurity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not qualify for SNAP or those without children in the specified age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the use of financial incentives within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to help families purchase fruits and vegetables at reduced prices. By collaborating with pediatric clinics in South Carolina, the study will identify families with children aged 2-10 who are food insecure and enrolled in SNAP. These families will receive education about the SNAP fruit and vegetable incentive program during their clinic visits, and will be randomly assigned to either receive vouchers for free produce boxes or participate in an education-only control group. The goal is to improve dietary quality and reduce health risks associated with poor nutrition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve the dietary habits of families facing food insecurity, leading to better health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that financial incentives for purchasing healthy foods can effectively increase consumption and improve health outcomes, indicating a promising approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Adams, Elizabeth — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Adams, Elizabeth
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.